Exactly--the salary cap and luxury tax look really far away when all your guys are on rookie contracts and cheap extensions, but life gets real in a hurry once those 3-4 $4M/year guys you were getting production from start getting $17M/year offers from the Nets.Yes, about $20m. But that wouldn't be all hat substantial if you hand IT $30M and then have to consider resigning guys coming up.
Not as dangerous a conclusion as IT was 75% of his regular self during the first two games. Hard to know for sure how much was CLE's scheme but I'd say more like 30-40%.Regardless, as presently constructed, I don't think the Celtics are better without IT and it could be a dangerous conclusion from one game regardless.
It has been well reported that Isaiah wants to be PAID in his next contract which is his right. If he's looking for anything close to what he is eligible for than Ainge is better off trading him sooner rather than later which he probably will over paying him anything close to what he'd want.....the problem now is the hip. If surgery is required you're talking missing the start of next season and for an explosive 5-8 player this injury is something that could result in us having already seen the best of Isaiah Thomas the basketball player. Quick, does Billy King have a new gig yet?I agree with pretty much everything in the recent posts, but another aspect of the Isaiah Thomas Experience is that this is not all that unexpected given the load he has to carry, the style of play necessary for him to be effective and the increased physicality in the playoffs. In coming years it should only get worse with age and accumulating injuries. I am starting to come to the conclusion that he needs to be under about 30 MPG, not 34 MPG to make it through a season and the playoffs. I think he needs to have a hear-to-heart with Ainge and Stephens to see if he's willing to accept that diminished role. He might be too proud and too good to do so, which could be the path towards trading him away at the trade deadline next year (for a good big or a future unprotected lottery pick+).
You know what would be hilarious? Boston sending Lil' Zeke to the Lakers for #2 and then putting together a package for Jimmy Butler built around the pick. And the Bulls drafting De'Aaron Fox. The ensuing LaVar Ball tweetstorm would be epic.It has been well reported that Isaiah wants to be PAID in his next contract which is his right. If he's looking for anything close to what he is eligible for than Ainge is better off trading him sooner rather than later which he probably will over paying him anything close to what he'd want.....the problem now is the hip. If surgery is required you're talking missing the start of next season and for an explosive 5-8 player this injury is something that could result in us having already seen the best of Isaiah Thomas the basketball player. Quick, does Billy King have a new gig yet?
He's also a great box office and merchandise draw which would be appealing to a struggling market.With the hip injury as well as his known limitations and impending free agency, Thomas' market is going to be very limited.
It's possible that someone like Orlando or New Orleans might have interest but the league knows what he is - half a brilliant player and the remainder a defensive liability. And now with a bad hip.
The Cs are probably one of the few teams that can offer Thomas what he is looking for in terms of money, scheme and environment. Both sides should explore an extension but Thomas is going to have to accept some hard realities one way or another over the next few seasons.
True which is why I mentioned Orlando or New Orleans. The problem is that he is a bit of a parlor trick for the former and they aren't likely to be competitive during the life of his contract.He's also a great box office and merchandise draw which would be appealing to a struggling market.
These things don't work together. If the Celtics sign Hayward, they have cut Zeller. To trade for Drummond and sign Hayward, the team would need to renounce everyone, trade Smart or Brown to clear cap space to sign Hayward, and then package all of IT, Bradley, and Crowder to put together enough salary for Drummond. Basically, there is no reasonable scenario where this works under the cap and makes remote sense as a basketball decision.If the Celtics *do* sign Hayward, an IT4 or AB +Crowder+Zeller trade would would for Andre Drummond and the 12th pick in the draft. Seems like too much talent to give up and the 12th pick doesn't really offset it. Works salary wise though.
DA is not getting a lottery pick, much less an unprotected one plus other things, for IT4, not now, not next month, not ever.He might be too proud and too good to do so, which could be the path towards trading him away at the trade deadline next year (for a good big or a future unprotected lottery pick+).
As was John Havlicek.But lest we forget this is the same town where Kevin McHale came off the bench for the first five years of his career – and returned to it later in his career. And he was still a Hall of Famer.
He has every right to decline a bench role but if he does, he's a goner.And those guys probably made less in their entire careers than IT will make in a quarter once he gets that next contract. As a competitor, I don't think there's any way he agrees to come off the bench after his performance this year - rightfully so.
I think it depends on what IT will take. In his benefit, he came out recently and said that he's not looking to renegotiate this contract this year and would rather the Cs spend the money on FAs - http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19473272/isaiah-thomas-okay-boston-celtics-spending-money-free-agency-extension. That could be more pragmatic than anything else (he's not getting an extension until his hip situation clears up) but it's good for him to acknowledge it.http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics/2017/05/bulpett_danny_ainge_quite_happy_with_isaiah_thomas_and_al_horford
While nothing would surprise me with Danny, it sure sounds like it's unlikely that IT will end up being the odd man out.